Portable washing and rinsing machine.



J. WLSGHWOERER.

PORTABLE WASHING AND RINSING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOE FILED DEC. 26. 1911.

1,054,990. Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1'.

J. W. SGHWOERER.

PORTABLE WASHING AND RINSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 26, 1911.

1,054,990. 1 Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

2 BHBBTS-SHEBT 2.

UNITED STATES PigrENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. SGHWOERER, OF CINCINNA TI, 'OHIO.

PORTABLE WASHING AND RINSING MACHINE.

.and also badly soiled garments in runnlng water in a closed receptacle which can be readily attached to the edge of a wash tray,

- bath tub, wash tuband the like, and conveniently secured to the ordinary water service and drains respectively.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closed washing and rinsing machine which is practically odor-proof and which,

eliminates the necessity of the operator handling the clothing after it has been placed therein during the operation of washing and rinsing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a suitable receptacle for soiled gar ments as fast as they accumulate and thus avoid the necessity of again handling them until they are washedand rinsed.

Thus it is seen that my invention is adapted for the purpose of washing diapers and badly soiled garment-s after-being used by infected persons, without danger, thereby insuring freedom from disagreeable odorsand infections emanating from the same.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate the construction, application and use of my invention: Figure 1 is a vertical section of the device clamped to the side of a stationary tub, the .water inlet being connected to an ordinary water faucet by means of a flexible tube; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same; Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device on a somewhat smaller scale, showing the device clamped to the side of a bath tub; and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a saddle used in clamping the machine to a bath tub.

In the embodiment of my invention, as-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1913.

Application filed December 26, 1911. Serial No. 667,866.

illustrated, and which shows my preferred construction, 1 represents the cylindrical receptacle or tank and 2 the lid which is suitably hinged thereto at one side and provided with a handle 2 on its opposite side by which the lid may be moved upon its hinges. A water inlet opening 3 is provided preferably near the top of the tank and a fluid outlet opening l at thebottom thereof. Slightly below the water inlet opening 3 I provide an overflow outlet 5 which connects through pipe (5 to a drain pipe 7 on the outside of the receptacle. This overflow serves as a gage, to insure the maintenance of the proper amount of water within the receptacle at all times and serves as an overflow to permit a constant flow of water through the machine during the operation of washing to carry off the suspended particles of matter which have been freed from the clothing during the washing and rinsing operation. The. drain pipe 7 is preferably provided with a valve 8 placed between the receptacle and the overflow pipe and having a passage therethrough equal in size to the diameter of said drain pipe to permit the free discharge of any sediment which may accumulate and also the quick discharge of the fluid contents of the receptacle when desired.

The location of the valve 8 in the outlet .4 upon the outside between the vessel 1 and the pipe 6 permits the discharge or overflow of water from the vessel either through said pipe 6 alone or in conjunction wit-h the outlet et and in the .latter case the vessel can be entirely drained and thoroughly cleaned conveniently and very quickly. Being on the outside of the vessel it also enables me to easily and conveniently operate the valve at any time during the operation of washing while the machine is filled with water and clothing and to enable me to adjust the valve to any position desired for the purpose of causing the desired amount of discharge through said outlet 4, a greater discharge being desirable when there is considerable sediment removed from the clothing when first placed in the machine and as the operation of washing or rinsing continues the discharge at the lower part of the vessel should be lessened and the discharge at the upper part increased for the reason that the lig ter particles of sediment dislodged from the clothing will be sufficiently light to rise to the surface of the water and be discharged through the outlet 5. This effects a saving i the soapy water can be used for a longer period .than when it is being discharged at the bottom as well as at the top.

An agitator 9 is provided and is mounted upon a shaft 10, which shaft 10 is slidably mounted in a bearing 11 in the lid 2 of the machine. Said shaft 10 is also slidably mounted within pinion 12 which is provided with a spline 13 which fits in a suitable spline-way on the shaft lO and allows said shaft 10 to slide longitudinally relatively to said pinionbut causing it to turn therewith. The shaft 10 is also supported in a bearing 14 which is supported by means of an upwardly extending bracket 15 which is suitably fastened to the plate 16 mounted upon the lid 2. The upper end of shaft 10 is provided with a handle 17 which may be used to raise and lower the agitator 9 for the purpose of opening the lid upon its hinge or pivot 18. In order to open the lid it is necessary to raise the agitator to itsuppermost position and when it has been thus raised it may be held in its raised position relatively to the lid by means of tightening the thumb screw 19 mounted in a collar 20 on the shaft 10. However, as soon as the lid is closed the thumb screw must be loosened before the agitator is lowered for vertical play inside of the tank in,

the operation. of washing. This is desirable in order to permit the dasher to adapt itself to varying quantities of clothing within the tank and to permit of vertical as well as rotary reciprocating motion at the same time to obtain a more thorough and complete agitation of the clothing' during the operation of washing and rinsing.

The plate 16 mounted on the lid 2 is rovided with a boss 21 near the edge of the lid 2 and has pivoted thereto at 22 a gear segment23. Said gear segment is provided with an extension 24 to which a handle 25 is secured. When the handle 25 is oscillated upon its pivot 22 the geaf'seginent 23, meshing with the pinion 12, oscillates said pinion and thereby oscillates the agitator 9 giving it a reversible rotary movement through the agency of shaft 10.

In order to provide an eflicient clamp for securing said device to the side of a stationary tub or the like, I secure two angle irons 26' to one side of the receptacle and to these angle irons I fasten two vertical wooden bars or strips 27. These bars or strips. form a bearing surface for the side of the device and prevent the same from marring any object to which it is attached when clamped'in position for use. Pivoted between said bars and at a point below the lid 2 of the machine is a goose-neck bracket 28 carrying at the outer end thereof a thumb screw 29. Said thumb screw is passed through the outer end of said goose-neck bracket 28 and carries a bearing plate 30 at the end thereof which is adaptedto bear against the edge of the tub or other object. The center line of the thumb screw is preferably on a line with the pivotal point of the goose-neck bracket 28, thus producing the most eflicient connecting or clamping means for said washing and rinsing machine.

To fasten the device to a bath tub, I provide an angular shaped central member 31 which has a concave recess 32 in its bottom which is adapted to rest upon the rolled edge 83 of bath tub 34 as shown in Fig. 4. The vertical side of the angular shaped bracket 31 then takes the place of the side of the stationary tub shown in Fig. 1, the

machine being clamped in precisely the same manner to said vertical portion of the bracket 31. The bracket 31 is reinforced with a metal bracket 36 as shown in Fig. The lower extension 37 of said bracket 36 extends under the roll portion 33 of the bath tub and is provided with a thumb screw 38 which has a bearing plate 39 at the end thereof adapted to bear against the under side of a roll rim 33 of the bath tub, thus clamping the angular shaped bracket 31 to the bath tub rim and consequently clamping the entire washing machine to said bath tub. i

The operation of the-device is as follows: The machine is properly clamped in position upon a stationary tub or bath tub as above described and the inlet tube or hose 40 is connected to the hot or cold water faucet 41 as desired. The valve 8 is closed and the drain 7 is connected to the sewer by means of flexible tube 42 having a tapering adjustable coupling 43 on the end thereof adapt-- ed to fit varying sizes ofioutlets. The water is then turned on and the clothes agitated by meansof the agitator 9 which is oper ated by the handle 25 or by means of other suitable power. The operation of the agitator in the running water which is always maintained at the proper height by'means of the overflow gage outlet 5 will reduce all solid matter into solution and suspension in the water which is automatically discharged through the overflow outlet or opening 5 thus constantly carrying off the soiled matter as rapidly as it is released from the clothing by means of the agitation and carrying it through the drain connection 7 and tube 42 into the sewer connection, thus forming a thoroughly practical and efficient sani tary washer and rinser.

One of the chief advantages of my invention is that it acts as a receptacleto hold soiled garments which may be immediately immersed in the water and allowed to soak until ready to wash or each garment may be agitated separately upon being placed in the receptacle and then allowed to soak,

until sufficient clothing has accumulated for a washing. The matter can be driven into the sewer immediately after depositing each garment by means of the running water inasmuch as it rinses them, washes them and then rinses them again, thus cleansing the garments without it being necessary to toucha single one with the'hands. The device can be readily attached to wash tubs or bath tubs, and to the ordinary and usual inlet water connections and sewer connections by means of rubber hose which may be easily connected by hand, only a slight pressure being required to connect them. These features make it absolutely safe .for the operator to wash soiled germ laden garments without any fear of contagion or without fear of inhaling any deadly germs or fumes which are prevented from escaping from the closed receptacle.

It will be noted that this Washing and rinsing machine is for purposes other than those which can be accomplished by the ordinarywashing machine. In addition to the advantages already enumerated, the bands do not'touch the Water or'the garments during the whole operation and all water is drained from the cylinder or receptacle by gravityor natural drainage. A few strokes of the agitator will drive all surplus water grom the garments leaving them merely amp.

My invention is capable of some modification without departure from the spirit or scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A portable washing and rinsing machine comprising a receptacle, adjustable means for supporting and holding said receptacle suspended within a stationary tub, awater inlet for said receptacle, a drain outlet at the bottom of said receptacle, an overflow near the top of said receptacle extending on the outside of same and discharging into said drain outlet and a valve insaid drain outlet between said receptacle and said overflow, substantially as set forth and for the purposes specified.

2. A portable washing and rinsing machine comprising a receptacle, adjustable means for supporting and holding said receptacle to one edge of a stationary washtub, and means for supplying a constant flow of water to and from said machine during the operation of washing and rinsing, substantially as set forth and for the purposes specified.

,3. A portable washing and rinsing ma chine comprising a receptacle, means for supporting and holding said receptacle, flexible means for connecting said receptacle to a water service, an overflow from said receptacle adapted to discharge said water and cause a constant flow of same therethrough and through a flexible sealed connection from said overflow with the sewer pipe, for the purposes set forth substantially as specified.

. JOHN W. SCHWOERER. Witnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY, JOHN Drum. 

